Free Safe From the Fire by Lily Rede

we both have control issues, but Colin is very creative
about getting his way.”
    At
that moment, Deputy Zeke trotted up.  There was ash in his red hair and soot
streaked his sweaty face, but it was his eyes that had Grace’s spine tingling
with dread.
    “What
did you find, Zeke?” asked Evie, correctly reading the expression on the young
deputy’s face.
    “It’s…well,
I was walking the outer buildings like you told me to, and over by the
dumpsters…” he trailed off, clearly upset.
    “Spit
it out,” ordered Evie, and Zeke held up a dusty plastic rectangle – a credit
card.
    Evie
squinted at the little blue piece of plastic.
    “I’m
sorry, Miss Mallow.”
    “That’s my credit card!” she gasped, “But how – ”
    “Do
you keep a storage unit up here?” asked Evie.
    Grace
shook her head.
    “When
was the last time you saw it?”
    “I
had it last night at the club.  I gave it to Adam to start a tab and then
completely forgot about it when the fire started.”
    “Are
you sure Adam gave it to the bartender?”
    “Evie!”
    Grace’s
screech was loud enough to catch Matt’s attention, and he glanced in her
direction.  Noting her distress, he said a few words to Rafael and hurried
over.  Behind him, the fire was under control – a testament to the Bright’s
Ferry Fire Department’s quick thinking and constant skill training. 
    “What’s
wrong?” asked Matt.
    But
Grace wasn’t done freaking out.
    “Adam
wasn’t anywhere near here.  Besides, why would he burn down a storage unit
that’s totally in the middle of nowhere?”
    “Grace,
I have to ask these questions, you know that.”  Evie’s gaze was steady, but
there was a note of censure in her voice.
    Grace
couldn’t look at Matt, but when he took her hand, she didn’t pull away.
    “So
you haven’t talked to him recently?” Evie continued, and Grace shook her head.
    “I
gave him my car keys and told him to go get a cell phone.”
    “We’ll
need to talk to him, Grace.”
    With
a quick nod at Matt, Evie and Zeke moved away to join Tony, who was just
getting out of his department SUV.
    Grace
couldn’t help the rush of tears, and tried to swallow them down.  She was still
holding Matt’s hand, and she clung to it like a lifeline.
    It’s
starting all over again.
    “He
didn’t do this,” she insisted, finally meeting Matt’s eyes, and the strength
and empathy she saw there made her want to curl up against his chest and
blubber.
    “Then
someone’s going out of their way to make it look like he did.”
    “You
believe me, right?”
    Almost
involuntarily, Matt drew her close, enveloping her in warmth and safety, his
hands tucking her against his chest, his breath ruffling her hair.  She felt
him press a kiss to her temple and was too overcome to protest.
    Does
he have to feel so good?  Dammit.
    “I
believe you.”
    Behind
them, Zeke cleared his throat, and Grace pulled away, a little flustered.  The
awkward deputy was as red as his hair, whether from embarrassment or from the
glow of the dwindling fire, it was hard to say.
    “Mr.
Harris, the Chief needs you.”
    “What’s
going on?”
    “There’s
another fire.”
     
    FOR
A BRIEF MOMENT, Adam wished he were back in his little bedroom above the soup
kitchen where no one knew him, no one cared where he came from, and no one
looked at him with years of reproach in their eyes.  What he wouldn’t give to
be completely anonymous.
    He
sat across the conference table from Evie Asher and Sheriff Tony, nervously
fiddling with a paper cup of coffee.  An exhausted Matt Harris was there as
well as a representative from the Fire Department, and the way he scrutinized
Adam made him uncomfortable.  Grace was waiting outside – despite her protests,
Evie wouldn’t let her sit in on the interview, and Adam was grateful.  Grace
would stand up for him, he knew it, but it was time for him to stand up for
himself.
    Adam
had arrived home late, new cell phone in hand, along with a car